The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota offers weekly programming designed to provide children with engaging, enriching, and fun experiences. Weekly topics developed by Museum educators will inspire babies, toddlers, and older kids with activities that support their development and growth in a safe environment.
Tuesday Mornings
Join us on the Infant and Toddler Play Porch! With a goal to support first-time parents or those who are caring for an infant, the Museum staff – who have a background in and a passion for early childhood development, will offer content specific to our birth to two age range. Although topics such as sleep, development, feeding and parent-child bonding will be selected and promoted for each session, parent questions will often take center stage and steer the conversation to wherever it is most useful for families.
4th Tuesdays: Mayo Clinic Health Systems Family Medicine and Pediatric providers on site
- Tuesdays, 10am – 11:30am
Tuesday Afternoons + Thursday Mornings
Join us in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft for a make-and-take art experience. We will explore and create with different art mediums each month. Drop in anytime during the program to participate!
- Tuesdays, 1pm – 3pm
- Thursdays, 9am – 11am
Wednesday Mornings
Projects and activities are inspired by place, seasons and nature, play schemas and child development. On the 2nd Wednesday each month throughout the year Mayo Clinic Health System Family Medicine and Pediatrics providers support program activities by sharing tips and information during sessions, and being available for questions while CMSM staff lead the program’s hands-on activities for children.
- Wednesdays, 9:30am – 11am
SONGS AND STORIES:
On the last Wednesday of the month during Young Explorers you can join us in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft for a special program of songs, stories and bilingual guest readers! Sessions start at
- 9:30am songs and rhymes
- 10:00am bilingual story time
- 10:30am literacy activities
Wednesday Afternoons
This program is for all age groups that are visiting the Museum. Join us outside to play as we explore the wonders of nature every Wednesday afternoon! Activities facilitated by a CMSM Play Professional.
- Wednesdays, 1pm – 3pm
Wednesday Afternoons
The North Mankato Taylor Library Bookmobile makes weekly stops at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota. Join us for story time on the Lauri Kuch Memorial Stage each week!
- Wednesdays, 2pm – 3pm
friday Mornings
A time to foster early literacy skills through play! This program is designed as a come-and-go experience that is child-led based on their interests. Join us Friday mornings from 9-11am to experience literacy through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing!
- Fridays, 9am – 11am
Tuesday + Thursday Mornings
Learn more about all of the important pollinators in our area, specifically the painted lady and monarch butterflies.
- Tuesdays, 9am – 11am
- Thursdays, 9am – 11am
Friday Mornings
Join us on Friday mornings for some outdoor STEAM in the Dotson Back 40! This come and go program will feature all your favorite ways to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.
- Fridays, 9am – 11am
Saturday + Sunday Afternoons
Join volunteers from the MathHappens Foundation in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft to explore mathematical thinking through puzzles, crafts, games and more. Activities are designed for children aged 2 and up.
- Saturdays + Sundays, 12 – 4pm
Tuesday Mornings + Thursday Afternoons
STEAM brings together a powerful combination of skills, techniques, and experiments!
- Tuesdays, 9am – 11am
- Thursdays, 1pm – 3pm
Thursday Mornings
Learn how to identify milkweed as well as eggs, caterpillars, and pupae of monarch butterflies and be a citizen scientist by helping us monitor and collect data on butterflies in our area for a collective project!
- Thursdays, 9am – 11am